The term “Obesity Epidemic” is familiar to most of us. Public health officials have been talking about it for years and it just keeps getting worse. Rates vary considerably by geography but range from 18.5% to 32.8%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) PowerPoint on obesity is an impressive display of the changing rates from 1985-2008 (go to slide 6, then click to the end fairly quickly and be wowed). Along with the physical weight we carry come health burdens such as cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

This dramatic increase in obesity has mainly occurred over the last 20 years accompanying more sedentary lifestyles and changes in our food systems. The underlying problem with food is excess. Not only do most of us eat more than our body needs, but we also eat too much sugar, salt, and a few of the bad-for-us fats particularly present in the so-called convenience foods. In combination, these taste really good together, which makes us want to eat more. While our soils erode, our food contains less nutrients per pound and is filled with more sugar, fat, salt, and additives.

Solutions include shopping as much as possible at Farmers Markets which offer a variety of fresh local foods. For extra health benefit, walk there if you can. Find and support the local farms in your area. They might offer a farm share or have a farm stand. When shopping at the grocery store, opt for fresh produce, humanely raised meat, and non- or minimally-processed food. Vote with your dollars for the kind of food system you want.

Another epidemic of excess is that of too many material items. Like too much cheap and not-so-healthy food, we also have too much cheap and not-so-well-made stuff. Like our waistlines, the average home size has swelled to hold all of our things. Similar to seeking medical care for our obesity-associated ailments, we also seek help from professional organizers.

This is also a relatively new phenomenon for humans which has come along with cheap materials and labor. The video Story of Stuff brilliantly outlines the problems with our unsustainable linear process of manufacturing and disposal of goods. This has left most of us feeling burdened with clutter and unfixable goods with planned obsolescence. As a result, we create more trash than ever before.

Solutions include embracing less but better quality stuff. Buy a good $100 pair of shoes that will last four years instead of four $25 pair of shoes each year. Know who you are buying from and avoid companies that exploit people and our natural resources. Buy products that have a future life through composting or recycling or that are easily re-used for another purpose. Borrow, rent, and share.

We’d probably all feel a lot better if we could just lighten up.